Systems and methods for ultrasonic velocity and acceleration detection

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with determining velocity and/or acceleration information using ultrasound. A system may include one or more ultrasonic transmitters and/or receivers. An ultrasonic transmitter may be configured to transmit ultrasound into a region bounded by one or more surfaces. The ultrasonic receiver may detect a Doppler shift of reflected ultrasound to determine an acceleration and/or velocity associated with an object. The velocity and/or acceleration information may be utilized to modify the state of a gaming system, entertainment system, infotainment system, and/or other device. The velocity and/or acceleration date may be used in combination with a mapping or positioning system that generates positional data associated with the objects.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for determining velocity data of an object within a region, comprising:
 a position module configured to determine a relative position of an object within a region; 
 an ultrasonic transmitter configured to transmit ultrasound into the region; 
 an ultrasonic receiver configured to receive an ultrasonic reflection of the transmitted ultrasound from a site on the object within the region; 
 a shift module configured to detect a shift of the ultrasonic reflection received by the ultrasonic receiver relative to the transmitted ultrasound; 
 a velocity calculation module configured to calculate a first velocity component associated with the site based on the detected shift of the received ultrasonic reflection; 
 a modification module configured to modify the state of an entertainment device based on the relative position of the object and the first velocity component of the site; 
 wherein the ultrasonic receiver is further configured to:
 receive a direct ultrasonic reflection from an object within the region, and 
 receive a rebounded ultrasonic reflection from the object, wherein the rebounded ultrasonic reflection comprises ultrasound reflected by the object and the first surface, and then received by the ultrasonic receiver; and 
 
 a mapping system configured to:
 generate direct positional data associated with the object based on the direct ultrasonic reflection, 
 generate rebounded positional data using the rebounded ultrasonic reflection of the object from the first surface, and 
 generate enhanced positional data by combining the direct positional data and the rebounded positional data. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a signal from the entertainment device is used to identify the site on the object at which to calculate the first velocity component. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a signal from the entertainment device is used to identify a time at which to calculate the first velocity component. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a signal from the entertainment device is used to identify a direction in which to calculate the first velocity component. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the position module is configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation in order to determine a relative position of an object within a region using electromagnetic reflections. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the position module is configured to receive positional data from an external source. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first velocity component associated with the site comprises a velocity component along a vector formed by the difference between the vector direction of the transmitted ultrasound arriving at the site and the vector direction of the reflected ultrasound departing from the site. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shift module is configured to calculate a frequency shift of the received ultrasonic reflection relative to a frequency of the transmitted ultrasound. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shift module is configured to calculate one of a time delay and a phase shift of the received ultrasonic reflection relative to a timing or phase of the transmitted ultrasound. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shift module is configured to calculate a wavelength shift of the received ultrasonic reflection relative to a wavelength of the transmitted ultrasound. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the state comprises the state of a software program used by the entertainment device. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the software program comprises an element of a video game. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic transmitter is configured to:
 transmit a first ultrasonic pulse that is received as the direct ultrasonic reflection; and 
 transmit a second ultrasonic pulse that is received as the rebounded ultrasonic reflection.